I don’t have a lot more details right now, but I just heard from multiple sources that Del. Mark Sickles is stepping down as Virginia House Democratic Caucus Chair. I also hear that Del. Eileen Filler-Corn is running to replace him. More details when I get them…
Just a few general thoughts on this. What we need in the Caucus Chair position is someone who can come up with a serious plan to start winning back the 17 or 18 Obama/Kaine House districts currently held by Republicans. Yes, I’m well aware that districts are gerrymandered, that Republicans have had a financial advantage, that it’s really hard, blah blah blah. But sorry, no excuses: we either suck it up and figure out a way to do this, or resign ourselves to being in the minority for a long time to come. No thanks. We also need someone who doesn’t just come up with a plan, but who works 24/7 – hard AND smart – to execute it. To do that, we need someone who can effectively employ all the tools of modern campaigns (social media obviously being one of those, among others), develop a true “farm system” of candidates, work with our candidates to make them as strong as they can be, connect with and motivate the grassroots “ground troops,” etc. Not that any of those things will guarantee victory, but NOT doing those things is an almost certain assurance of defeat.
UPDATE: Del. Scott Surovell also tells me he’s running for the job.
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